June 1st marked the start of hurricane season for us here at Enitech headquarters in Raleigh, North Carolina but natural disasters don’t stop at the coast.
Across the U.S., wildfires in California, floods in the Midwest, and power outages from severe storms are growing threats to businesses of all sizes. While we can’t control the weather, we can control how well prepared we are when disaster strikes.
Whether it’s a hurricane, wildfire, or just an unexpected power failure, the businesses that bounce back quickest are the ones that plan ahead.
Why Business Continuity Planning Matters
Every hour of downtime costs money, but more than that, it costs trust. Clients depend on you to be responsive, secure, and available. Without a solid continuity plan, even a short disruption can ripple into long-term impact.
According to the Milken Institute, 40% of small businesses never reopen after a natural disaster, and an additional 25% close within a year.
With recent years bringing record-setting storm activity and wildfires, proactive preparation isn’t just smart, it’s essential.
Business Continuity Checklist: What to Do Before a Disaster Hits
Here’s a high-level checklist every business should review at least once a year:
1. Create a Disaster Response Plan
- Identify emergency contacts and internal responsibilities
- Establish communication procedures for staff and customers
- Define steps to secure physical and digital assets
2. Backup Critical Data (And Test It!)
- Ensure automatic backups are running regularly (on-site + off-site/cloud)
- Perform test restores to confirm data can be recovered quickly
3. Protect Physical Infrastructure
- Surge protectors and battery backups for servers and key hardware
- Fire suppression and flood protection systems in place
- Updated insurance for business property and loss of income
4. Enable Secure Remote Access
- Make sure employees can access systems securely if offices are closed
- Use VPNs, MFA, and endpoint protection for remote users
5. Review Vendor & Supply Chain Dependencies
- Identify key suppliers and their own continuity plans
- Prepare backup vendors or alternate workflows if disruption occurs
6. Train Your Team
- Conduct annual drills or tabletop exercises
- Distribute printed and digital versions of the disaster plan
“Disasters don’t wait for you to get ready. Whether it’s a storm, a power outage, or a cyber event triggered during chaos, your business needs to be resilient before the crisis hits. That’s where continuity planning comes in, it’s your competitive advantage when everything else is uncertain.” – Antwine Jackson, President of Enitech
No Matter Where You Are, Be Prepared.
While we’re keeping a close eye on hurricanes here in North Carolina, we know many of our clients across the U.S. are facing different risks:
- West Coast: Wildfires and rolling blackouts
- Midwest: Flooding and severe thunderstorms
- South & East Coast: Hurricanes, tornadoes, and tropical storms
- Northeast: Winter storms and Nor’easters
Regardless of the region, the outcome is the same: Without preparation, your business is vulnerable.
A Resilient Business Is a Trusted Business
At Enitech, we help companies across the country prepare for the unexpected through:
- Disaster recovery planning
- Remote access setup
- Data backup and cloud solutions
- Cybersecurity protections to reduce vulnerability during emergencies
If your business continuity plan needs a refresh, or you’re starting from scratch, now is the time to act.
Don’t wait until the storm hits.
Need help building your disaster preparedness strategy?
Download our checklist or contact us today to schedule a business continuity consultation.
